{"markup":"\u003C?xml version=\u00221.0\u0022 encoding=\u0022UTF-8\u0022 ?\u003E\n \u003Chtml version=\u0022HTML+RDFa+MathML 1.1\u0022\n xmlns:content=\u0022http:\/\/purl.org\/rss\/1.0\/modules\/content\/\u0022\n xmlns:dc=\u0022http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/\u0022\n xmlns:foaf=\u0022http:\/\/xmlns.com\/foaf\/0.1\/\u0022\n xmlns:og=\u0022http:\/\/ogp.me\/ns#\u0022\n xmlns:rdfs=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/01\/rdf-schema#\u0022\n xmlns:sioc=\u0022http:\/\/rdfs.org\/sioc\/ns#\u0022\n xmlns:sioct=\u0022http:\/\/rdfs.org\/sioc\/types#\u0022\n xmlns:skos=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2004\/02\/skos\/core#\u0022\n xmlns:xsd=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2001\/XMLSchema#\u0022\n xmlns:mml=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1998\/Math\/MathML\u0022\u003E\n \u003Chead\u003E\u003Cscript\u003Eif(typeof window.MathJax === \u0022undefined\u0022) window.MathJax = { menuSettings: { zoom: \u0022Click\u0022 } };\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript src=\u0022https:\/\/www.bmj.com\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_rvqD3pd7j-PZ6JZdAHt2fB3_x3qj-q5uJ__00yD2B_k.js\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript src=\u0022\/\/cdn.jsdelivr.net\/qtip2\/2.2.1\/jquery.qtip.min.js\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript src=\u0022https:\/\/www.bmj.com\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_xe_XQ_EuB6_juYCU8DncnMbrNmpDsRCwsSXdtikxhlM.js\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript\u003EjQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {\u0022basePath\u0022:\u0022\\\/\u0022,\u0022pathPrefix\u0022:\u0022\u0022,\u0022highwire\u0022:{\u0022ac\u0022:{\u0022\\\/bmj\\\/368\\\/bmj.m831.atom\u0022:{\u0022access\u0022:{\u0022full\u0022:true,\u0022reprint\u0022:true},\u0022pisa_id\u0022:\u0022\u0022,\u0022apath\u0022:\u0022\\\/bmj\\\/368\\\/bmj.m831.atom\u0022,\u0022jcode\u0022:\u0022bmj\u0022}},\u0022processed\u0022:[\u0022highwire_math\u0022],\u0022markup\u0022:[{\u0022requested\u0022:\u0022long\u0022,\u0022variant\u0022:\u0022full-text\u0022,\u0022view\u0022:\u0022full\u0022,\u0022pisa\u0022:\u0022bmj;368\\\/mar02_8\\\/m831\u0022}]},\u0022instances\u0022:\u0022{\\u0022highwire_abstract_tooltip\\u0022:{\\u0022content\\u0022:{\\u0022text\\u0022:\\u0022\\u0022},\\u0022style\\u0022:{\\u0022tip\\u0022:{\\u0022width\\u0022:20,\\u0022height\\u0022:20,\\u0022border\\u0022:1,\\u0022offset\\u0022:0,\\u0022corner\\u0022:true},\\u0022classes\\u0022:\\u0022qtip-custom hw-tooltip hw-abstract-tooltip qtip-shadow qtip-rounded\\u0022,\\u0022classes_custom\\u0022:\\u0022hw-tooltip hw-abstract-tooltip\\u0022},\\u0022position\\u0022:{\\u0022at\\u0022:\\u0022right center\\u0022,\\u0022my\\u0022:\\u0022left center\\u0022,\\u0022viewport\\u0022:true,\\u0022adjust\\u0022:{\\u0022method\\u0022:\\u0022shift\\u0022}},\\u0022show\\u0022:{\\u0022event\\u0022:\\u0022mouseenter click \\u0022,\\u0022solo\\u0022:true},\\u0022hide\\u0022:{\\u0022event\\u0022:\\u0022mouseleave \\u0022,\\u0022fixed\\u0022:1,\\u0022delay\\u0022:\\u0022100\\u0022}},\\u0022highwire_author_tooltip\\u0022:{\\u0022content\\u0022:{\\u0022text\\u0022:\\u0022\\u0022},\\u0022style\\u0022:{\\u0022tip\\u0022:{\\u0022width\\u0022:15,\\u0022height\\u0022:15,\\u0022border\\u0022:1,\\u0022offset\\u0022:0,\\u0022corner\\u0022:true},\\u0022classes\\u0022:\\u0022qtip-custom hw-tooltip hw-author-tooltip qtip-shadow qtip-rounded\\u0022,\\u0022classes_custom\\u0022:\\u0022hw-tooltip hw-author-tooltip\\u0022},\\u0022position\\u0022:{\\u0022at\\u0022:\\u0022top center\\u0022,\\u0022my\\u0022:\\u0022bottom center\\u0022,\\u0022viewport\\u0022:true,\\u0022adjust\\u0022:{\\u0022method\\u0022:\\u0022\\u0022}},\\u0022show\\u0022:{\\u0022event\\u0022:\\u0022mouseenter \\u0022,\\u0022solo\\u0022:true},\\u0022hide\\u0022:{\\u0022event\\u0022:\\u0022mouseleave \\u0022,\\u0022fixed\\u0022:1,\\u0022delay\\u0022:\\u0022100\\u0022}},\\u0022highwire_reflinks_tooltip\\u0022:{\\u0022content\\u0022:{\\u0022text\\u0022:\\u0022\\u0022},\\u0022style\\u0022:{\\u0022tip\\u0022:{\\u0022width\\u0022:15,\\u0022height\\u0022:15,\\u0022border\\u0022:1,\\u0022mimic\\u0022:\\u0022top center\\u0022,\\u0022offset\\u0022:0,\\u0022corner\\u0022:true},\\u0022classes\\u0022:\\u0022qtip-custom hw-tooltip hw-ref-link-tooltip qtip-shadow qtip-rounded\\u0022,\\u0022classes_custom\\u0022:\\u0022hw-tooltip hw-ref-link-tooltip\\u0022},\\u0022position\\u0022:{\\u0022at\\u0022:\\u0022bottom left\\u0022,\\u0022my\\u0022:\\u0022top left\\u0022,\\u0022viewport\\u0022:true,\\u0022adjust\\u0022:{\\u0022method\\u0022:\\u0022flip\\u0022}},\\u0022show\\u0022:{\\u0022event\\u0022:\\u0022mouseenter \\u0022,\\u0022solo\\u0022:true},\\u0022hide\\u0022:{\\u0022event\\u0022:\\u0022mouseleave \\u0022,\\u0022fixed\\u0022:1,\\u0022delay\\u0022:\\u0022100\\u0022}}}\u0022,\u0022qtipDebug\u0022:\u0022{\\u0022leaveElement\\u0022:0}\u0022,\u0022bootstrap\u0022:{\u0022anchorsFix\u0022:\u00221\u0022,\u0022anchorsSmoothScrolling\u0022:\u00221\u0022,\u0022popoverEnabled\u0022:\u00221\u0022,\u0022popoverOptions\u0022:{\u0022animation\u0022:1,\u0022html\u0022:0,\u0022placement\u0022:\u0022right\u0022,\u0022selector\u0022:\u0022\u0022,\u0022trigger\u0022:\u0022click\u0022,\u0022title\u0022:\u0022\u0022,\u0022content\u0022:\u0022\u0022,\u0022delay\u0022:0,\u0022container\u0022:\u0022body\u0022},\u0022tooltipEnabled\u0022:\u00221\u0022,\u0022tooltipOptions\u0022:{\u0022animation\u0022:1,\u0022html\u0022:0,\u0022placement\u0022:\u0022auto left\u0022,\u0022selector\u0022:\u0022\u0022,\u0022trigger\u0022:\u0022hover focus\u0022,\u0022delay\u0022:0,\u0022container\u0022:\u0022body\u0022}},\u0022ajaxPageState\u0022:{\u0022js\u0022:{\u00220\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/modules\\\/highwire\\\/highwire\\\/plugins\\\/highwire_markup_process\\\/js\\\/highwire_at_symbol.js\u0022:1,\u0022\\\/\\\/cdn.jsdelivr.net\\\/qtip2\\\/2.2.1\\\/jquery.qtip.min.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/modules\\\/highwire\\\/highwire\\\/plugins\\\/highwire_markup_process\\\/js\\\/highwire_article_reference_popup.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/default\\\/modules\\\/jnl-bmj\\\/jnl_bmj\\\/plugins\\\/highwire_markup_process\\\/js\\\/bmj_author_affiliates.js\u0022:1}}});\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Clink type=\u0022text\/css\u0022 rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bmj.com\/sites\/default\/files\/advagg_css\/css__dn-cpI1YtkU_iLHgA5WhlkxgYWyat_IxjF_B-WSYrpE__Ta9eNt7PPGHCfsyTneXg1ooQkRjbMt18zHVfHQYMDns__b2e6faiQ_UWIrIhhy-1_GBi9M1f1xMsmWzx8NA2PKwk.css\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Clink type=\u0022text\/css\u0022 rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bmj.com\/sites\/default\/files\/advagg_css\/css__VL3TN026f9BhfsMn60oa9g1dqxN3t44ueAsjySR7zoM__gI8FKfQ0C_cA7f9XyCTyU-M649DMROWB2M5aueCwY-s__b2e6faiQ_UWIrIhhy-1_GBi9M1f1xMsmWzx8NA2PKwk.css\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Clink type=\u0022text\/css\u0022 rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bmj.com\/sites\/default\/files\/advagg_css\/css__HGACIFBlu2o05y3afvqlt5wrE_5Dn6MXsexfuEpeIwg__bZRPPTxGBklJTL0kiU8ickehU_1TeXhqoRdbfYVaapM__b2e6faiQ_UWIrIhhy-1_GBi9M1f1xMsmWzx8NA2PKwk.css\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Clink type=\u0022text\/css\u0022 rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 href=\u0022\/\/cdn.jsdelivr.net\/qtip2\/2.2.1\/jquery.qtip.min.css\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Clink type=\u0022text\/css\u0022 rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bmj.com\/sites\/default\/files\/advagg_css\/css__GkPSKUkdJ2bzIT9BLdob0bbh88SFHg9JxcNgbdHlbDc__qYTxeL-KKGqFiuvt1Pd7tJWAZkcDxAZN7jCKDHxZcE0__b2e6faiQ_UWIrIhhy-1_GBi9M1f1xMsmWzx8NA2PKwk.css\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Clink rel=\u0027stylesheet\u0027 type=\u0027text\/css\u0027 href=\u0027\/sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/panels\/plugins\/layouts\/onecol\/onecol.css\u0027 \/\u003E\u003C\/head\u003E\u003Cbody\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panels-ajax-tab-panel panels-ajax-tab-panel-jnl-bmj-tab-art\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-display panel-1col clearfix\u0022 \u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-panel panel-col\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-pane pane-highwire-markup\u0022 \u003E\n \n \n \n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022pane-content\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022highwire-markup\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv xmlns=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xhtml\u0022 id=\u0022content-block-markup\u0022 data-highwire-cite-ref-tooltip-instance=\u0022highwire_reflinks_tooltip\u0022 xmlns:xhtml=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xhtml\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022article fulltext-view \u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022highwire-journal-article-marker-start\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022contributors\u0022\u003E\u003Col class=\u0022contributor-list\u0022 id=\u0022contrib-group-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022last\u0022 id=\u0022contrib-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022name\u0022\u003EElisabeth Mahase\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Col class=\u0022affiliation-list\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022aff\u0022\u003E\u003Ca id=\u0022aff-1\u0022 name=\u0022aff-1\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Caddress\u003EThe BMJ\u003C\/address\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-2\u0022\u003ERecently retired doctors may be asked to return to work as part of the UK\u2019s covid-19 response, according to health secretary Matt Hancock.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-3\u0022\u003ESpeaking on \u003Cem\u003EThe Andrew Marr Show\u003C\/em\u003E on 1 March, Hancock said this option is being considered, but that it was \u201cnot something we need right now.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-4\u0022\u003EThe government is currently developing contingency plans\u2014expected later this week\u2014and prime minister Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of the COBRA emergency committee today (2 March). So far, 40 people in the UK have tested positive for the virus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-5\u0022\u003E\u201cThe big challenge for the NHS in the event of covid-19 becoming widespread is NHS staff not being able to come to work because they are ill or self-isolating. It is not so much about physical buildings, it\u2019s about the people,\u201d Hancock said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-6\u0022\u003EHis comments came as GPs raised concerns over their lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). Posting on social media, South Cumbria GP Alison Johnston asked Hancock, \u201cWhat are you doing to protect GPs from coronavirus outbreak? Currently we have two masks for the whole surgery and no full PPE or training in how to use PPE. What will happen to our patients when we catch it?\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-7\u0022\u003EOther commentators asked what protection healthcare professionals with long term conditions will get.\u003Ca id=\u0022xref-ref-1-1\u0022 class=\u0022xref-bibr\u0022 href=\u0022#ref-1\u0022\u003E1\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-8\u0022\u003EHancock said, \u201cThere are, right now, huge protection measures that are in place for current cases, and we are putting measures in place for future cases. We are buying, at speed, the sorts of kit we need. Also, some of the stock that we stored in case of a no deal Brexit is being used.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-9\u0022\u003EHe was then questioned on reports that there are only nine to 11 beds across England vacant for people who may need ventilators if seriously ill with covid-19. Hancock said the figures were \u201cwrong and out of date.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-10\u0022\u003EPressed on how many ventilators the UK has, he continued, \u201cWe have 50 now and we can ramp that up to 500 and then if necessary 5000.\u201d He specified, however, that those would be 5000 beds \u201cthat are able to cope with the worst impact of this virus\u201d rather than 5000 beds with ventilators.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-11\u0022\u003EWhen asked about whether elective surgery may be cancelled because beds are being used for covid-19 instead, Hancock said, \u201cOf course I do not want to do that, but these are clinical decisions. Clinicians have to make decisions about what is the most important and effective use of NHS resources.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-12\u0022\u003EAs of 2 March, the worldwide death toll for covid-19 has exceeded 3000. Nearly 90\u2009000 people have been infected in more than 60 countries, with around 80\u2009000 in China.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-13\u0022\u003EIn South Korea, the government has announced it will investigate religious sect leader Lee Man-hee, the founder of the Shincheonji Church, and 11 others in relation to coronavirus deaths. They were accused of hiding the names of members as officials tried to track patients before the virus spread. The country had reported more than 4000 cases and 21 deaths, with more than half of all infections involving members of the church.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-14\u0022\u003EMeanwhile in the US, a second death has been recorded. There are 88 confirmed cases in the country.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022license\u0022 id=\u0022license-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-1\u0022\u003EThis article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ\u0027s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022ali-license-ref\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bmj.com\/coronavirus\/usage\u0022 rel=\u0022license\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/bmj.com\/coronavirus\/usage\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022section ref-list\u0022 id=\u0022ref-list-1\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EReferences\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Col class=\u0022cit-list\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca class=\u0022rev-xref-ref\u0022 href=\u0022#xref-ref-1-1\u0022 title=\u0022View reference 1 in text\u0022 id=\u0022ref-1\u0022\u003E\u21b5\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022cit ref-cit ref-journal\u0022 id=\u0022cit-368.mar02_8.m831.1\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022cit-metadata unstructured\u0022\u003EJohnston A. Twitter. March 2020. \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/twitter.com\/dralisonj\/status\/1234105297695858688\u0022\u003Etwitter.com\/dralisonj\/status\/1234105297695858688\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022cit-extra\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022highwire-journal-article-marker-end\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan id=\u0022related-urls\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bmj.com\/content\/368\/bmj.m831.abstract\u0022 class=\u0022hw-link hw-link-article-abstract\u0022\u003EView Abstract\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cscript src=\u0022https:\/\/www.bmj.com\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_am8GAfrhW3uXc7HVCmqF3MltMmNunvhyJ6MM_6EffRE.js\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C\/body\u003E\u003C\/html\u003E"}